DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE 



579 



SESSIONAL PAPER No, 16 



Eight plants were set to each frame, about 1 foot apart. The ground was pre- 

 pared by making a trench about 1 foot deep and 1 foot wide and placing in this 6 

 inches of good heating horse manure. The soil was rounded over the trench, and 

 after the frames had been closed for two days to warm up the soil the plants were set. 



The frames were kept well ventilated during the day and closed at night until the 

 first weelc in July, the plants were then gradually hardened off by lifting the frames 

 and they were finally removed toward the end of July. 



The fruit splits badly under our climatic conditions, which is no doub't caused 

 by the great range between our night and day temperature. This splitting, of course, 

 renders the fruit unmarketable and consequently the growing of this crop will 

 probably never be of any commercial importance unless varieties are obtained that 

 fwiU not split. 



The following table gives such information as we were able to secure in the 

 growing of this crop : 



CUCUMBERS IN THE GREENHOUSE. 



Seven varieties of cucumber were grown in the greenhouse during the summer. 

 Two of these, Arlington White Spine and Davis Perfect were American varieties and 

 the other five were English sorts. 



The seed was sown in 3^-inch pots on April 25. One plant was grown to a pot, 

 and these were set from the pots to benches at a distance of 4 feet apart on June 3. 



The soil was well enriched with well-rotted horse manure and bone meal. A 

 dressing of horse manure was also given on July 22. 



The vines were trained to a trellis with wires 1 foot apart and the laterals were 

 allowed to spread on each wire 2 feet on each side of the main vine. 



The house was well ventilated during the day and during very warm days was 

 kept moist by wetting the paths and underneath the benches in order to give a humid 

 atmosphere. This was generally well wet down at 4 o'clock and closed down for the 

 night. 



The American sorts were hand pollinated, which was done by removing the male 

 flower and placing them in contact with the female blossoms. 



Kentville. 



